The Editor, The Age: Community expectations of law and order can be sensibly met if Tamar Hopkin`s advice in her article ‘Police searches need new profile’ (8/11) is heeded. As is explained, racial profiling by police – stopping and searching individuals because of their race – is counter-productive as it leads to distrust of the police and feelings of alienation by those apprehended. Her call for the police to issue a receipt when they stop someone (as is done in Britain) is on the right track, that will compel them to show just cause for doing so, leading to a greater transparency of police procedures and so reducing any likelihood of unwarranted harassment by those charged to uphold the law and respect people`s rights.
– Keith McEwan, CLA member, Castlemaine, Victoria